Graphene Flakes for Electronic Applications: DC Plasma Jet-Assisted Synthesis.

Irina V Antonova,Artem I Ivanov,Regina A Soots,Peter P Ivanov,Marina B Shavelkina,Alexey N Bocharov

doi:10.3390/nano10102050

Irina V Antonova, Artem I Ivanov + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10102050

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Journal: Nanomaterials	Publication Date: Oct 16, 2020
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Institute of Semiconductor Physics

Abstract

The possibility of graphene synthesis (the bottom-up approach) in plasma and the effective control of the morphology and electrical properties of graphene-based layers were demonstrated. Graphene flakes were grown in a plasma jet generated by a direct current plasma torch with helium and argon as the plasma-forming gases. In the case of argon plasma, the synthesized graphene flakes were relatively thick (2–6 nm) and non-conductive. In helium plasma, for the first time, graphene with a predominance of monolayer flakes and high conductivity was grown in a significant amount using an industrial plasma torch. One-dimensional (1D) flow modeling shows that the helium plasma is a less charged environment providing the formation of thinner graphene flakes with low defect density. These flakes might be used for a water-based suspension of the graphene with PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate) composite to create the structures employing the 2D printing technologies. Good structural quality, low layer resistance, and good mechanical strength combined with the ability to obtain a large amount of the graphene powder, and to control the parameters of the synthesized particles make this material promising for various applications and, above all, for sensors and other devices for flexible electronics and the Internet of things ecosystem.

Highlights

Graphene, due to its unique electronic characteristics [1,2], is one of the in-demand materials for various applications in electronics: in the design and manufacture of manifold functional electronic [3,4], biological and bioelectronic medical [5] and non-medical [6] devices, for printed and flexible electronics [7,8], and in the development of materials and composites with controlled properties [9,10]
We show that the graphene powder with a predominance of monolayer flakes might be successfully applied in the 2D printing technologies and, as an example, in the production of the conductive layers for a wide spectrum of applications: various sensors and other devices of flexible electronics
We show that graphene flakes synthesized in helium plasma with the propane-butane mixture addition can be used to obtain a water-based graphene suspension or a composite suspension with PEDOT:PSS to create structures using the 2D printing technologies

Summary

Introduction

Due to its unique electronic characteristics [1,2], is one of the in-demand materials for various applications in electronics: in the design and manufacture of manifold functional electronic [3,4], biological and bioelectronic medical [5] and non-medical [6] devices, for printed and flexible electronics [7,8], and in the development of materials and composites with controlled properties [9,10]. The main problem with the existing methods is the difficulty of obtaining the monolayer nanoparticles. Their thickness is usually several nanometers, which is a significant limitation, in terms of maximum flexibility and the required composition (volume of graphene), in electronic applications [14], in printing technologies [15], as well as for application in composites [16]. The way out of this contradiction is in changing the approach: in the transition from graphite exfoliation to the synthesis of the graphene flakes

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Conclusion